Sonnenblick has got to be one of my most favourite authors. I love his sense of humour. His previous two books I read Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie and Zen and the Fine Art of Faking It had me laughing and crying often on the same page. The characters he creates really speak to me, they seem so alive.
In Notes from the Midnight Driver, we meet Alex, a good kid who is just fed up with his parents divorce and one night makes a big mistake. His punishment for this mistake is to work with Sol, a cranky old man who is living his last days in a nursing home making everyone miserable. As the relationship grows between Alex and Sol, Alex slowly learns to take responsibility for his actions and learns a great deal about life as well.
One of the most appealing things about Sonnenblick's writing is how his characters are very involved with music. It isn't often that young adult writers write about kids (boys?) with a passion for the arts. I know many boys are looking for themselves in what they read, and I think they will find it here. Coupled with the awkwardness of a first love, Alex has so many characteristics that I see in the boys in my classroom. His books are just begging to be read.
Any of his books would be great for Literature Circles, Read Alouds or Independent Reading. I know I'll pick up anything I see by him.
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